The Activate Capital Team

Robert Gallagher

CEO

Robert is CEO of Activate Capital. Prior to joining Activate Capital, Robert was a Director with KKR and led the firm’s credit investment activities in Ireland, including promoting the firm’s investment in Activate. From 2005 to 2011, he was an Executive Director of Ulster Bank, where he was responsible for the corporate and business banking franchises. Robert led the European leveraged finance and project finance businesses at Allied Irish Banks and has also worked at Citibank and KPMG. From 2009 to 2011, he was a board member of the European Banking Federation and president of the Irish Banking Federation. Robert is a Chartered Accountant and holds a B.Sc. from University College Dublin.

Paddy McElligott

Head of Investment

Paddy leads investment activities at Activate Capital. Prior to the establishment of Activate Capital, Paddy was a Principal with KKR, with responsibility for credit investment activities in Ireland, including KKR’s original investment in Activate. Previously, he was a Director with Avoca Capital, focused on high-yield corporate credit investing across Europe. Paddy qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG and holds degrees in Civil Engineering and Mathematics from Trinity College Dublin. Paddy sits on the council of Property Industry Ireland and chairs its finance policy committee.

John Flynn

CFO

John is CFO of Activate Capital. Prior to joining Activate Capital, John was a Director of Corporate Finance at Goodbody Stockbrokers in Dublin and previously Vice President of Investment Banking at Credit Suisse in London. Before joining Credit Suisse, John worked as a Corporate Finance Executive in Goodbody Stockbrokers and as a Credit Analyst in leveraged finance at AIB Capital Markets. John has extensive corporate finance experience and has advised some of Ireland’s largest publicly quoted and privately owned businesses on fundraising, strategy and M&A. John holds a first class honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Ciarán O’Toole

Investment Director

Ciarán is responsible for the origination of new relationships and the leadership of subsequent execution of transactions. Prior to joining Activate Capital, Ciarán was a manager in Ulster Bank, with various roles including real estate finance and most recently in the restructuring and disposal of the Bank’s non-core portfolio. Ciarán had direct responsibility for the management of a large number of real estate investment and development clients and he was also involved in the management and sale of Project Clear, a €500m residential development land portfolio. Ciarán graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in Mathematical Science.

Sarah Ó Cinnéide

Portfolio Director

Sarah leads the portfolio management team at Activate Capital and is responsible for overseeing the portfolio of customer loans. Prior to joining Activate, Sarah held senior roles in NAMA’s Residential Delivery Division, where she was responsible for the funding of large scale residential developments. Sarah commenced her career in AIB and also held senior roles in the Property Finance, Corporate Banking and Global Restructuring divisions of Ulster Bank. Sarah graduated from University College Dublin with a Business and Law degree.

Mark Conlon

Investment Director

Mark is responsible for the origination of new relationships and the leadership of subsequent execution of transactions. Prior to joining Activate Capital, Mark was with EY as an Assistant Manager in their Assurance Group, specialising in audits of clients in the financial services sector. Mark holds a master’s degree in Structural Engineering with Architecture from University College Dublin and is a Chartered Accountant.

Orna Kelly

Financial Controller

Orna is responsible for the financial management of the business, focusing on capital management, stakeholder engagement and financial planning. Orna joined Activate Capital from BlackRock, where she was Vice President and Head of EMEA Alternatives Financial Reporting. She previously worked in senior leadership roles with Brown Brothers Harriman and State Street, having originally qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC. Orna graduated from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Commerce.

Caetlyn Teakle

EA & Office Manager

Caetlyn joined Activate Capital from Hat Trick Television Productions in London and has over 10 years’ experience in various office based roles, including community event planning in her native Australia. As a result of her previous experience, Caetlyn brings strong organisational and analytical skills to her role with Activate Capital.

Corina Postolache

Portfolio & Operations Manager

Corina is responsible for the monitoring, analysis and credit management of the loan portfolio. Corina joined Activate Capital from Pepper Money, where she was involved in commercial property loans origination and portfolio management. Corina is a qualified Financial Advisor and holds a M.Sc. in Finance and a Professional Diploma in SME Credit and Corporate Banking Credit.

Linda Apse

Finance Manager

Linda is focused on the finance and operations side of the business. Linda joined Activate Capital from Therabody, with prior experience at Grant Thornton in their Corporate Audit division. Linda holds a B.A in Accounting from Technological University of the Shannon and is an ACCA qualified Accountant.

Andrew Kleiser Byrne

Investment Associate

Andrew’s principal role is the analysis of new transactions and management of the completion process. Andrew joined Activate Capital from KPMG Corporate Finance, where he worked within the Valuations team. Andrew is qualified as a Chartered Accountant and holds a B.A. in Economics and Psychology from Trinity College Dublin.

Brian Quinn

Investment Associate

Brian’s principal role is the analysis of new transactions and management of the completion process. Prior to joining Activate Capital, Brian was a Private Equity Associate in Renatus Capital Partners, working primarily within the Investment team. Brian previously completed an internship with Activate Capital in 2020. Brian holds a B.Sc. in Economics and Finance from University College Dublin and is an ACCA qualified Accountant.

Cathal Purcell

Investment Analyst

Cathal’s principal role is analysis of new transactions and management of the completion process. In 2023, Cathal undertook a summer internship with Activate Capital. Cathal completed a MSc in Finance and Economics at University of St Andrews, Scotland, and holds a BSc (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics & Economics from University College Dublin.

Charlie Byrne

Junior Analyst

Charlie joined Activate Capital in August 2025 as part of UCD’s Quinn School of Business Internship Programme. He is a third-year student studying Commerce and assists the Activate team with transaction origination and portfolio management.

Wali Khwaja

Junior Analyst

Wali joined Activate Capital in September 2025 as part of UCD’s Quinn School of Business Internship Programme. He is a third-year student studying Commerce and assists the Activate team with transaction origination and portfolio management.